CLEguy

Frankly that sounds like a prety great unplanned trip. I would suggest more unplanning like this in the future.

DeepUnderground

I can't complain! I had never been to Chicago before. I had a snafu with a "results not returned" lab error on a COVID test where I could re-schedule my Qatar flight but not my connecting flight to ORD and ended up with a bonus day. I believe I clocked about 45 miles on the bicycle.

chgoeditor

If you're ever back on Memorial Day weekend, Lake Shore Drive closes for most of Sunday morning so people can bike on it. Off the top of my head, I think it's 30 miles total, and while there's an "official" starting point, you can really join and leave at any point.

Missylob

Great thread! Next Monday I got a 12 hour layover 6am-6pm. Any suggestions on what I can do that keeps me close to the airport and won’t cost much? I prefer being outside if weathers decent. Thanks!

CLEguy

Blue Line to Logan Square or Wicker Park.

gfunkdave

Really you could just also take the blue line downtown too. 12 hours is a long time.

if it's raining you can go to a museum too. If it's not raining you can check out Millennium Park and the downtown lakefront, then take the blue line back up to Bucktown/Wicker Park for lunch or shopping, then back up to O'Hare.

Putnik

Bike The Drive seems to be moved permanently to Labor Day as of last year and this year.

DeeGee26.2

Hi folks,

I'm coming for a few days for the marathon next month, and apart from marathon day itself and the need to pick up my race number on Friday morning, I'm leaving the rest of my time unplanned. I'll generally just explore, although I'm thinking about doing an Architectural Boat Tour. I'll probably get a CTA pass and travel round on the L - I don't mind a bit of public transport. I'm guessing it's reasonably straightforward?

I quite like craft beer and casual dining, and I'm going to be travelling on my own. Are there any particular areas I might like to hang out? I'm staying in the Loop opposite the Willis Tower and I don't see much there of an evening, so I figure I'll need to go out.

Strange question, I'm travelling light, I'll obviously have my marathon running shoes, some comfy shoes for after the marathon, and possibly a pair of Chuck Taylors. Do I need "proper" shoes for a casual evening out in Chicago? There are some towns in the UK where sneakers are an absolute no-no, even for a few pints in a pub.

TWA884

There are plenty of great food options, from casual to fine dining, in the West Loop and Fulton Market area, right across the river from where you will be staying. Here are a couple of lists, 1, 2; there are plenty of other worthy options. All you need to do is stroll by to see what appeals to you.




While I am sure that there are a couple of places that may care, I can't think of a single restaurant that is going to pay attention to the type of shoes that you'll be wearing.

DeeGee26.2

That photo is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. You mentioned the Fulton Market on another thread, didn't you? Looks like that's going to be my main evening focus. That's basically just across the river, isn't it?

TWA884

Yes, I did and it is right across the river.

I am a big fan of the area. Actually, I am at my daughter's apartment in the West Loop and looking at the Willis Tower, which is approximately half a mile away, as I am typing this. Randolph Street - Chicago's "Restaurant Row" - and Fulton Market are a few blocks north of where I am.

CLEguy

Boy howdy do I have you covered. You'll want to head to West Town for beer. In a few block radius you have a bunch of places:

• Midwest Coast
• On Tour Brewing
• District Brew Yards (a pour-your-own place with the beer from four or five onsite breweries)
• Goose Island (the actual brewhouse)
• Finch

A bit farther out you've got Pilot Project and Orkenoy in the Logan Square area, Dovetail and Begyle in Avondale, and many many more. An Eater guide is here. You will NOT go wrong in the best beer city in America.

It's a casual town, feel free to come as you are.

DeeGee26.2

​​​​​That place looks awesome!

gfunkdave

The west loop is good for restaurants but that's all it is. It doesn't ever feel to me like a neighborhood, just an agglomeration of semi-spendy to outrageously overpriced places to eat and drink.

I'd also suggest taking the Blue Line to Wicker Park and walking around (get off at Damen). Or take the Red Line to Lincoln Park (stop: Fullerton) or Lakeview (stops: Belmont or Addison) or Andersonville (stop: Argyle or Bryn Mawr).

OK that "best beer city in America" is utter and total nonsense. I am getting upset just thinking about it. If it had said either of the Portlands or perhaps even Denver, I'd have nodded my head. But Chicago? Come ON. That list was written by someone who either a) doesn't much like beer and was just trying to write an article, or b) was paid to say that. The breweries here are mediocre at best. Half Acre is the only half decent (see what I did there? ) one. I'd say that, while "craft brewing" has caught on and is a thing in some places, it is still trying to figure itself out here. Moving to Chicago from Portland (Maine) was a real letdown in terms of local beer. But on the bright side, I lost some weight because I'm not drinking beer so much these days.

And if OP would like to go to Half Acre, it's a super easy and fast train ride on the Metra UP-N line to Ravenswood, then walk or take the Brown Line to Damen and walk. Or just Uber. And there are a few other breweries right there to try as well.

And if you'd like a dive bar downtown with a lot of local and non-local beers, check out Rossi's Liquors (on Clark, just north of the river). A real flavor of old-time Chicago but with a better beer selection.

But I will agree that the only places that would object to certain footwear would be uber fancy places with dress codes, which are rather rare. If you're not going to a club or a 3 star restaurant, then it's not a concern.

I'll have to check out District Brew Yards though!

CLEguy

Agree completely. West Loop is fine. But it's not particularly interesting.

Wow! Someone didn't have their Frosted Flakes this morning.

If there's one thing that Chicago is world class in, it's dive bars. The absolute best ones are cash-only.